Striped skunk winter source for food

Skunks often steal food from other animals and are especially grateful to animals that often store their food in the ground for later.

Many mustelids have an anal scent gland that produces a pungent secretion used as a defensive weapon, a seemingly obvious connection to the skunks.

Other diseases that can be carried and transmitted by skunks are most commonly leptospirosis, Q-fever, tularemia, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, and listeriosis. Rabies can be transferred to pets or humans through bites or by ingesting skunk droppings.